Kurt Elling
With seven GRAMMY nominations and seven albums, Kurt Elling is a standout in the world of jazz. The School of the Arts at Brookhaven College welcomes Elling for the spring Spotlight Performance Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. in the Performance Hall.
Reviews of Elling’s work consistently use words like “in a league of his own,” “tremendous range,” and “jazz great.” A recent review from The Independent (UK) said, “his breathtaking technique, powers of invention and skills at vocalese (setting words to long, often highly complex, instrumental solos), is what makes Kurt Elling possibly the greatest jazz singer alive today, and certainly one of the all-time greats.”
Elling is consistently ranked among the best male vocalists in jazz in music magazines by critics and listeners alike. He has been selected as the critics’ poll winner for the last eight years as ‘Male Vocalist of the Year’ in Downbeat magazine and also has been recognized by JazzTimes, JazzWeek and the Jazz Journalists Association. His GRAMMY nominations included three for “Best Jazz Vocal Performance,” and three for “Best Jazz Vocal Album.”
Elling has been featured in profiles for CBS Sunday Morning, for CNN, and in hundreds of newspaper and magazine reviews and articles. In addition to his performances, Elling has written and directed literary and artistic events for theaters in Chicago. One piece adapted from the works of Alan Ginsberg was performed in Chicago before moving on to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Annenberg Center in Philadelphia, and at the Galway Festival in Ireland.
In addition to the performance, Elling will take part in a vocal clinic earlier in the afternoon, from 1-3 p.m., in Building D, Room D203. The clinic is free and open to the public. To learn more about Kurt Elling, go online to www.kurtelling.com. Tickets for spotlight events are available three weeks prior to the performance. Prices for floor seating are $25 for adults, $20 for senior adults and DCCCD staff and students. Balcony seating is $20 for adults, $15 for senior adults, DCCCD staff and students. Group rates are available. Call the Box Office at ext. 4118, Monday through Thursday between 1 and 5 p.m., and Friday from 1 and 3:30 p.m. for more information or to reserve tickets.
